The next in the series after Lava and Hurricane. Please read those first. Toph has to deal with an overbearing father, a boy claiming to be her fiance, a worried boyfriend and his ex-girlfriend. Also Suki has trouble. Then onto the Final Battle! R&R!

A/N: This
is the continuation to Lava and Hurricane, so if you haven't read
those, go read those first. I decided to go back to my strong pairing
and what I had in mind needed another pov, so please, R&R! Thank
you.

Disclaimer:
I don't own Avatar.

She woke
to the sounds of voices from the side room where the two baths were.
Rolling over, she could make out Katara and Suki speaking quietly
about clothes and dresses and how to make a great impression to a
guy. Toph smiled as she thought about when she had worn the dress for
Zuko in Omashu.

His
reaction had been more than she had even hoped for. She had wanted to
wear a dress again for him, but not while they were on the verge of
attack. Now that they were safe for the moment, maybe.

She sat
up, thinking about dressing nice for once out of her own desire and
heard and felt the little girl, Jasmine, and The Duke playing tag up
and down the hallway. With a smile she also felt the vibrations of
Zuko's footsteps walking down the hallway and dodging the younger
kids outside of her room. He paused outside her door, but continued
on as Katara and Suki came out of the second room.

With that,
Toph hurried into the other room, stripping her clothes and
earthbending all of the dirt off of her before getting into the warm
water, sighing as her muscles relaxed.

"Katara,"
she called once she was settled. "Can you come here for a second?"

She heard
Katara come hesitantly to the door between the two rooms and step
inside.

"Yes,
Toph? What's wrong?"

Toph
grinned. "Nothing Sweetness. I just wanted to ask you something."

She heard
Katara sigh as the waterbender relaxed and almost wished she could
feel her heartbeat. She loved teasing them all, but had to get down
to business.

"Can you
help me dress nicely? In a dress?"

Katara's
breath drew in sharply but when she spoke, Toph heard a smile in her
voice.

"Of
course Toph! But…why?"

"I just
want to look nice," Toph said, shrugging. "Thanks, I'll be out
in a bit."

Katara
took the hint and hurried out of the room and Toph could hear her
rummaging through their belongings as Toph relaxed in the tub. The
water was getting cooler, but it was still nice and warm, just like
Zuko.

Her
thoughts went to the night before, after they had come back from
rescuing Jade's daughter and defeating the Combustion man, Hou
Long. Zuko had led her to the boys' room as Sokka, Suki and Aang
and Katara had gone their separate ways. Zuko had sat her down on one
of the beds and took her hands in his.

He had
apologized for everything he had done in the past that had hurt her
and promised to be more forthcoming and honest in the future. She had
laughed at the honesty remark, saying that she could tell when he was
lying. He had then told her that if she wanted to be left alone, he
would give her space, to which she promptly replied by grabbing his
shirt and pulling him in for a kiss.

"No, no
space, only you," she had told him as she cuddled into his embrace.

They had
talked through the afternoon as they sat together of their pasts and
their hopes, but out of an unsaid agreement, did not talk about the
upcoming invasion and final battle with the Fire Lord. They had been
interrupted, along with everyone else by Jade's entry into the
house and then been sent to bed by Liz, the other Kyoshi warrior.

Toph
sighed as she felt a warm feeling in her heart as she rose out of the
tub and toweled off. She then felt Katara hurry back into the side
room. The waterbender grabbed her hand as soon as she had the towel
wrapped around her and pulled her into their room, exclaiming on how
beautiful she was going to look. Toph smiled and let Katara dress
her, and then do her hair and makeup.

"How do
I look?" Toph asked her when Katara finally exclaimed that she was
done.

"Beautiful,"
Katara sighed.

Toph
smiled, but put her hands on her hips. "No, Sugar Queen, explain it
to me. How do I look?"

She felt
Katara lean back as she examined the earthbender.

"Hmm,
you have a light green dress on with just a faint pattern of roses.
There's three shoulder knots of darker green holding it closed on
your left shoulder. You look like a porcelain doll with light creamy
skin, gorgeous red lips, and just a little bit of green eye shadow.
Your hair is like black silk, falling to your waist and the dress
brings out curves that make you look like a woman."

Toph
smiled. "Thanks Sugar Queen. Now lets' get out there and surprise
some guys."

Katara
giggled and led the way out of the room. Toph followed, reaching out
with her senses for the others. She found them all at the dining
table except Suki and Jade who were in the kitchen. She walked
gracefully with the stride her mother had taught her that made her
look like she was gliding into the room and heard everyone quiet
down.

Toph knew
they were all staring at her, but only Zuko's heartbeat was
erratic, beating much faster than normal. Toph grinned at him and
went to sit next to him.

"So,
what do you think?" she asked him as normal conversation started
around the table again.

"Wow,"
he whispered.

Toph
grinned even more as his heartbeat seemed to speed up as he looked at
her.

"Don't
over exert yourself, Hothead," she whispered to him. "Wouldn't
want you to die of a heart attack."

She smiled
as Jade and Suki came in with breakfast and Zuko took a deep breath
to calm himself. Toph heard Aang and Sokka snickering across the
table. She was still smiling as she got some toast and fruit from the
trays in font of her, and moved her foot, earthbending, and causing
Aang and Sokka to fall on their backs.

Toph heard
the girls snicker as the two boys sat back up, grumbling. She was
sure they were sending dark looks her way and was glad she couldn't
see them as she continued getting breakfast. Zuko also laughed
quietly at the boys, low enough so that only Toph could hear.

Toph
turned her attention to the former assassin as everyone quieted and
did the same.

"I think
I'll try a quiet life now," the woman stated, and Toph knew from
the affectionate tone in her voice that she was looking at her
daughter. "I'd like to learn the ways of healing now, just as my
father did."

"I'd
be happy to teach you," Shawn stated with pride in his voice.

"Thank
you, father," Jade replied.

Breakfast
went quietly after that and the conversation moved around from where
they would head next to training sessions for Aang. Toph put her two
cents in occasionally on the training aspect, but knew that Zuko was
waiting to get away and be with just her. She felt the same way and
as soon as The Duke and Sokka started clearing dishes, she and Zuko
excused themselves to the front room, away from the others.

"You
look gorgeous," Zuko whispered as they sat on the cushions in the
corner of the room.

"Thanks,"
Toph whispered, ducking her head as her face heated up. "I'm glad
you like it."

"What's
the catch?" he asked, and she knew he was smirking at her.

She gave
her best innocent look and acted astonished. "Why would there be a
catch? Can't I dress nice if I want to?"

Zuko
backed away and she knew that he knew she was lying. He leaned in
close again, his mouth centimeters away from hers.

"There's
always a catch with you," he whispered. "So, are you going to let
me know, or do I have to pry it out of you?"

Toph
grinned wickedly and moved a little closer, just enough so that they
still weren't touching. "Pry away."

She felt
his hands leave the ground and was sure he was going to pull her in
for a kiss, but instead, he poked her sides, tickling her.

"Hey,"
she said between laughs as his hands became surer and the tickling
intensified. "No fair."

"All's
fair in love and war," he stated, and she heard the smile in his
voice.

"Oh, so
it's war you want," she said, twisting out of his range. "Then
its war you get."

Toph
jumped at Zuko, tackling him to the floor and tickling his sides. He
started laughing and was reaching to tickle her as well. His laughter
was music to her ears, a rare sound that she found precious. She
evaded as much as she could, but he had a longer reach and was
tickling her too much. Toph backed away and started at his feet,
pulling his boots off. Zuko sat up and was about to reach and tickle
her sides again when a loud, urgent knocking sounded at the door.

"Coming,"
Shawn called from down the hall.

Shawn came
and passed them and she was sure he was giving Zuko a stern look as
Zuko hastily sat up and tugged on his clothing, running a hand
through his hair. Toph was about to laugh at him as the knocking
continued, but she became aware of the people on the other side of
the door.

"No, not
now," she whispered, her smile turning into a frown instantly.

Toph
thought there was something different to his tone. He was still
angry, but it was more controlled. Also his tone had that demanding
touch to it when he faced his competitors, and his heartbeat was calm
and even. She felt a little nervous, but didn't let it show. She'd
show him who she really was.

"You
bet, just tell me when and where."

"Now,
outside, and to up the stakes, if I win, you come back home and marry
who I want. If you win, you get to live life the way you want."

Toph
thought there was a catch. Her dad's heartbeat was too even, but
she knew she could win.

"You're
on, old man. I'll be right there."

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